Angel Of The Damned

Angel IX | Loyalty and Untruth

LEGION'S POV:

My palms kept twitching in anxiousness while I paced back and forth frantically. As the High Commander of Crimson Crown's Aegis and Armaments for decades now, there hasn't been a single miscalculation in any of my security strategies or mistakes in even the most severe battles. I have been defending my honour as the highest combatant in command ever since that strainingly reputable rank was bestowed upon me. 

However, after tonight, I highly doubt that I might still be worthy of holding onto those nonsense nobilities.

"I have failed you. I have failed us. No matter how desperate or demandingly dangerous the situation could have been, I should have still stayed focused on my actions. Not to mention that I also failed to fulfil the assigned task. It was utterly irresponsible of me-"

"Emm Legion... You forgot to lock the tunnel. Why are you rehearsing a speech of repentance as if it is high treason?" My feet finally stopped pacing as I paused to peek at the other guy who stood across the hollow passage of that damned tunnel. His grey eyes were growing big with curiosity but I couldn't oversee the glint of guilt that hid in the corners of them though.

"Besides, you are our Highest Commander in charge and who could possibly question your actions? All of us know that you don't take orders from- you know- them." He was right in a way, yes.

Among the extraordinary privileges of being actually related to the royalties, I held exclusive exemptions from having to report my every action to the purebred Ministers and even King Alastor himself. However, I am still obliged to inform my moves to Raven because technically, my unyielding loyalty had been solely pledged to him. Not to the King nor the kingdom, but to Raven Demogorgon. My brother and he trusted me. Nevertheless, I knew it will be foolish of me to even attempt an explanation to my fairly younger and not to mention, very much human subordinate. Suddenly, I recalled an obvious point that I almost missed in the chaos of our current commotion.

"Kai, what were you doing in the cottage?" Thanks to my inhuman hearing, I could clearly hear the sounds of his muscles tensing and his heartbeat racing loud enough.

"I told you... I was getting food..." Untruth. I moved one small step forward and he instantly took a faltering few backward, reassuring my uncertainties even further.

"You know what I am and how that makes me highly sensitive to the smell of blood, Kai. The cottage reeked of blood and I don't see any wounds on you. So, I'm going to ask you one more time and I expect to hear the truth. MALACHI GRINDLEY, WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN THE COTTAGE?"

My question had clearly hit the bull's eye because even his breathing became ragged as light beads of sweat began sliding down his fair forehead. He buried his frantic face in his palms for a few seconds before hastily combing his fingers through the long waves that fell over his brows.

"Look, Legion... Whatever you choose to do with me after I fess up, I'll accept it willingly but please-" He crossed over to my side hurriedly and stopped right before me. "Please know that I've been completely loyal and grateful to you since the day you rescued me from-"

"Kai! I know, alright? I am NOT accusing you of disloyalty or anything here because I am indeed well aware of the lengths of your loyalty and I've already told you multiple times that you are NOT indebted to me in any way for the past. Right now, I need you to speak the truth because just the way I trust you, there is someone who trusts me with my duties and it is to him alone that I'm pledged to answer."

A few drops of guilty tears dropped from the younger boy's glossy eyes as I held his shaking shoulders. Demogorgons were naturally drafted by birth into not investing their trust in humans. However, I didn't simply save his life but pretty much appointed him to a fairly grand position which was rather reserved for a fellow purebred or at least, half-bred and that alone should explain the range of our relationship.